Game girls: our 2012 Olympic heroines

They’re the women who made us cry, jump for joy and, above all, inspired us with their heroics. So what happened next? Our fave Olympic and Paralympic medallists fill us in…
By Fiona Cummins, photography by Mark Hayman


Beth Tweddle, 27

Won bronze on the uneven bars. She is rumoured to be joining the next series of Dancing On Ice.

Beth wears: dress, Hunt No More at ASOS


Do you often get recognised in the street?

A lot now. I went on holiday to Florida and I was signing pictures there – it was halfway around the world!

How did your boyfriend Steve [Cryer, 30, a financial advisor] mark your Olympic success?

He ordered me an Olympic pendant in bronze from Links of London so I can wear my medal all the time. He can be cute with his presents. When we first got together he didn’t really know who I was and his mum came round and said: “Why’s Beth Tweddle in your kitchen?”

Tell us a secret about the Olympic Village…

When I left my accommodation, I took home my duvet, Union Jack doormat and the Team GB poster that had been on the wall. I didn’t take any furniture, though – I left the bed!


Sarah Storey, 35

Won four gold medals in cycling, including the C5 individual pursuit and C5 road race. She was born without a functioning left hand.

Sarah wears: dress, Virgos Lounge; cuff, stylist’s own; shoes, New Look


What’s been your most showbiz moment?

My homecoming parade in Disley, Cheshire. I was sitting in the back of a convertible BMW, being driven with a police escort through the village. It was exciting and humbling.

Best freebie?

Oh gosh. There have been so many freebies – gold Crocs, BlackBerrys, suitcases, kettles, toasters… Everything’s just been turned gold.

We bet husband Barney (Storey, 35, fellow Paralympic cyclist) is enjoying your success.

He loves it. Barney deserves a huge slice of my medals – it’s a team effort between us. But as a husband and wife, you’re not allowed to stay together in the Olympic Village. It’s a stupid rule.

Do you feel like your disability has held you back or pushed you forward?

Neither. I’m not disabled. I’ve got a bit of my hand missing.


Hannah Cockcroft, 20

Won double gold in the T34 100m and 200m wheelchair races. She has cerebral palsy.

Hannah wears: blouse, Julien Macdonald at Debenhams; skirt, River Island; earrings, Freedom at Topshop; bracelet, New Look


Guz_Hannah_Cockcroft-014Describe your life post-Paralympics.

It’s been mental. I was so convinced everyone would say: “Well done”, and that would be it. But I go into town and people will walk past me and say: “Oh God, it’s Hannah Cockcroft!” My mum and my best friend think it’s hilarious.

What’s been your best showbiz moment?

I met the celebrities I most wanted to see just before the Games – McFly! They played at a BT London Live event and because BT are one of my sponsors, they invited me down. The boys were lovely.

Is there anyone special in your life?

Just my wheelchair, who I call Sally. I spend the most time with her. I’m rubbish with relationships – I get bored very easily.

What are your hopes for 2013?

I can’t cook and it really is a problem so I’m being sent on a cooking course to learn how to do it. The lifestyle advisor at UK Athletics said: “Hannah, you need to learn to make something more than beans on toast and pizza.” It’s embarrassing, isn’t it?

Hannah is a BT Ambassador. BT was the official communications services partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games.


Rebecca Adlington, 23

Won bronze medals in the 400m and 800m freestyle swimming.

Rebecca wears: dress, Halston Heritage at Harvey Nichols; shoes, Couture


Do you get recognised a lot?

Most people say: “Did I go to school with you?” It’s unbelievable how many come up and ask if I’m Victoria Pendleton. I look nothing like her!

Will we see you at Rio in 2016?

I don’t think Rio is in my sights. I’ll be 27 by then, which for a female distance swimmer is quite tough. So it’s whether I go for the Commonwealth Games in 2014, especially as they’re in Glasgow.

What are your hopes for 2013?

Next year will feel a bit flat. But my big sister Laura’s getting married so that will be nice. I’d love to do Strictly as well!

Are you superstitious?

I have to do everything on even numbers. I can’t set my alarm on an odd number or a half. It has to be 2,4,6 – I’m the same with the TV volume.


Dani King, 22

Won a gold medal in the cycling team pursuit.

Dani wears: dress, Soo Jin Lee; shoes, New Look


What’s been your best showbiz moment since the Games?

I went to a charity dinner and Kate Moss was there. I took my medal and she tried it on and said: “That’s the best fashion accessory ever – it goes with everything!” It was surreal.

And you must have had some good freebies!

My gold Hunter wellies are pretty cool.

What does your boyfriend make of your fame?

I’ve been seeing Matt [Rowe, 24, a fellow cyclist] for almost four years and he’s just enjoying it with me. Becoming famous was a shock. We went to Marbella after the Games and there were paparazzi everywhere. But you live and learn.

What was the first thing you did after winning gold?

I put on weight really easily so I have to be careful with my diet but I was in an interview after I won my medal, and they said: “Is there anything you want?” I begged: “Please, can I just have some chocolate?!”


Jade Jones, 19

Won Great Britain’s first-ever taekwondo gold.

Jade wears: top, River Island; shorts, New Look; shoes, Schuh


Describe your life post-Olympics.

I’m from a council house in Flint, north Wales so to be noticed is a great feeling. Straight after the Olympics it was crazy. I couldn’t even go to sleep on the train as people would wake me up to ask if I was Jade Jones!

Best freebie?

My black Jaguar – they sponsor me [grins]. I’m getting a white one from them soon as well!

Have you had much fan mail?

It’s been mad, I’ve had hundreds of letters. Most of them didn’t even have an address. They just said: “To Jade Jones, Olympic gold medallist.”

Your boyfriend Jordan (Gayle, 21) also does taekwondo. Do you ever fight each other?

It’s a joke how competitive we are! Even on holiday, we were sparring and we had to stop because it got too rough and we were kicking each other in the head! He just missed out on the Olympics because he was injured, and I think he found it quite hard.

Are you superstitious before a fight?

At the Olympics, I went in the same toilet before each fight and then, before the final, there was a girl in that toilet. I was outside thinking: “Come on, come on!” but I was two minutes away from competing, so I had to go in another one. Luckily, it didn’t make a difference.


Gemma (left) wears: dress, necklace, both Topshop; belt, Marks & Spencer; shoes, New Look. Libby (right) wears: dress, Sveta Sotnikova; shoes, Chockers


Gemma Gibbons, 25

Won silver in judo.

Your victory at your semi-final fight, when you mouthed: “I love you mum” to the sky, became iconic…

It was a private moment, and the next day everyone was talking about it. It was strange but everyone has been so supportive.

What’s been the best thing you’ve done since the Games?

I really liked going on The Million Pound Drop for Stand Up To Cancer – it meant a lot to me as my mum died from leukaemia in 2004.

What are your hopes for 2013?

I’d like to be world champion. It would be great to be selected and aim for a medal.

Any New Year’s resolutions?

I probably need to kick the chocolate habit.

The photo that you posted on Twitter of the toilets at Buckingham Palace caused a stir!

I’d never seen any toilets like them before! I tweeted the picture and then it went crazy. A Buckingham Palace press officer told me that the Queen herself found it really funny!


Libby Clegg, 22

Won silver in the T12 100m sprint. She is registered blind.

What were you thinking as you stood on the podium?

I can’t remember! It was a massive blur.

What’s the first thing you did after winning your medal?

Do you want the truth? I cried. I was .08 seconds off winning. I was really disappointed until lunchtime the next day and then I got told to let it go and move on. So that’s what I did.

And how did you celebrate?

I ate McDonald’s for breakfast, lunch and dinner for six days. I made myself ill.

How do you handle your disability?

I like to be independent. I should use a white stick but I don’t. I think it makes you vulnerable.

Are you working towards Rio?

Yes, my first training session after the Games was horrible – I spewed up! The next four years is planned out for me. I want to get to Rio.


Shelly wears; top, River Island; jeans, Primark; necklace, Pret a Portobello; bracelet, stylist’s own; boots, Chockers Helen wears: dress, Sveta Sotnikova; shoes, Milli


Shelly Woods, 26

Won silver in the T54 wheelchair marathon. She is paralysed from the waist down.

Describe your life post-London 2012.

Although it was an amazing experience and incredibly tough, it’s nice that it’s over and I achieved what I wanted to. I’ve been on my honeymoon, too. I got married last December [to accountant Chris Oxley] but I had no time off so we had to wait until after the Games.

Do you get recognised in the street?

Yeah. Doing my shopping in Tesco I see kids going: “That’s Shelly!” It’s good as I’m just a normal girl from Blackpool.

Was winning an Olympic medal an emotional experience?

Yeah, after, I watched Cool Runnings about the Jamaican bobsleigh team, and cried!

How did you feel up on the podium?

Well, I was knackered. I felt like I’d been hit by a bus, but my mum was screaming!


Helen Scott, 22

Won silver and bronze medals in the 1km time trial and pursuit cycling events as tandem pilot to Paralympian Aileen McGlynn.

What’s life been like since the Games?

Hectic. I’ve never been to a Games before so I didn’t know what would happen afterwards. I keep thinking: “How am I going to get back into training?” I haven’t got time!

We hear the Games worked out well for you romantically…

Yes, I’m seeing [road and track cycling Paralympic medallist] Jon-Allan Butterworth, 26. We’d known each other for a few years but we got together just after the Games. With all the excitement, we were like: “Let’s give it a go!” It’s going well.

What are your hopes for 2013?

To go on holiday with all my friends.

What are your New Year’s resolutions?

To stop stressing over little things and go with the flow a bit more.

Hair: Guy Kremer using L’Oréal Professionel, James McMahon at Nakedartists.com, Dino Pereria at HMS Creative using Goldwell, Enzo Volpe at HMS Creative using Paul Mitchell haircare Make-up: Justine Jenkins, Hannah Dolan at HMS Creative using Smashbox, Jerry Chaplin at HMS Creative using Bobbi Brown Styling: Kate Barbour, Sarita Morales, Lucie Clifford Bike supplied by Tokyofixedgear.com 
%d bloggers like this: